Breast Masses MRI Volumetry Compared to Post-operative Pathological Volume

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies afflicting women worldwide 1.

Tumor size is important prognostic factor, its accurate measurement is essential for formulating surgery and chemotherapy plans. Additionally monitoring the change of tumor volume during treatment is an important for response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.

Typically, breast tumor size is reported from diameter measurements, using the unidimensional response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) or the bidimensional WHO criteria. Both caliper techniques are widely employed methods for their simplicity 2. However, may be less sensitive than 3D volumetric measurement 3.

Breast cancers are less well circumscribed and more inhomogeneous on their border than benign lesions 2 and tumor necrosis correlated with tumor grade and aggressiveness is technically challenging while measuring tumor 1.

Measurements of tumor volume is more accurate than diameter and thus more sensitive to tumor size changes in response to treatment. 3D volume measurements more accurately capture the extent of irregularly shaped tumors, multifocality, and diffuse shrinkage of lesions during treatment 3.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is high resolution, inherent three-dimensionality and able to quantify tumor size 4,5. It is superior to mammography, sonography, and examination for revealing tumor extent in the breast and more accurately reflect the presence and size of residual disease after chemotherapy 3.

Previous studies investigated tumor size measured by the longest diameter on MRI agree with those on pathology 3.

Also 3D tumor volume correlation with those of other pathology has been investigated for was investigated in breast, prostate and pleural cancers 6-8 Our aim is to investigate CE-MRI tumor volume compared to pathology size.